Two officers, nine soldiers martyred in Orakzai IBO: ISPR

Pakistan’s military confirmed that two army officers and nine soldiers were martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district overnight between October 7 and 8. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation targeted militants described as India-backed, resulting in an intense exchange of fire.

ISPR identified the martyred officers as Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq, 39, and Major Tayyab Rahat, 33, both residents of Rawalpindi. The statement said the officers led from the front and fought gallantly before laying down their lives.

The nine soldiers who embraced martyrdom were named as Naib Subedar Azam Gul (38, Khyber), Naik Adil Hussain (35, Kurram), Naik Gul Ameer (34, Tank), Lance Naik Sher Khan (31, Mardan), Lance Naik Talish Faraz (32, Mansehra), Lance Naik Irshad Hussain (32, Kurram), Sepoy Tufail Khan (28, Malakand), Sepoy Aqib Ali (23, Swabi), and Sepoy Muhammad Zahid (24, Tank).

ISPR said at least 19 terrorists were killed during the engagement and that a sanitisation operation was underway to clear the area of any remaining militants. The military reiterated its resolve to eradicate terrorism and said such sacrifices strengthen national determination against violent groups.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the fallen personnel, expressing grief over the loss of Lt Col Tariq, Maj Rahat and the soldiers, and vowing that their sacrifices would not go in vain. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to thwart plots against Pakistan’s integrity.

The Orakzai IBO follows recent operations elsewhere, including a strike in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district that security sources said neutralised 14 militants. Separately, a new report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies recorded a sharp rise in violence in the third quarter of 2025, with KP and Balochistan bearing the brunt of incidents and fatalities.